• The Alleghany County Fiddlers Convention will be held at the Alleghany Fairgrounds, 1525 U.S. 21 North in Sparta. Competition is for bluegrass, old-time, youths, adults, instrumentalists, duets, bands and dancers. The convention starts Friday at 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday. Championship band playoff is Saturday night. Admission os $10 for one or both days. For more information, visit www.alleghanyfiddlersconvention.com.

July 20-22

• The Foothills Theater will present “SHREK the Musical” in Elkin High School’s Dixon Auditorium.

July 21

• 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., a blood drive will be held at Lowe’s Home Improvement, 429 CC Camp Road, Elkin.

• 10 a.m., The 2018 Richmond Hill Lecture on the Life and Times of Richmond Mumford Pearson (1805-1878), former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, will be held at Historic Richmond Hill Park, 4641 Law School Road, East Bend. Andrew L. Mackie will lead a discussion of the four-page flyer written by the late James Albert Hutchens, retired professor history, Surry Community College. This flyer explains the importance of Pearson’s life and why his home at Richmond Hill was worth saving. The lecture is free and open to the public. It is presented by the Yadkin County Historical Society and the Historic Richmond Hill Law School Commission. For more information, contact Andrew Mackie, 336-428-8471 or andrewmackie@yadtel.net.

• Noon to 5 p.m., Yadkin Riverkeeper will have its tour from Crater Park to Carolina Heritage Vineyard and Winery for paddling, potluck and music. Children ages 8 and older are welcome. The tour raises money for the Riverkeeper to run education programs, conduct research and lobby for legislation to protect area waterways. Volunteers are needed for the day as well, and they can paddle at discounted fees. All paddlers must register at www.yadkinriverkeeper.org by July 19.

• 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Surry County Republican Party will host a rally to allow voters to get to know Republican candidates for 2018 at Meadowview Middle School, 1282 McKinney Road, Mount Airy. There will be free barbecue dinner and entertainment by The Not Brothers, with families and children welcome.

• 6:30 p.m., The Comedy Zone and Explore Elkin will host Comedy on Main featuring opening act Todd Riley and headliner Darren “D.S.” Sanders at The Liberty’s Coley Hall, 222 E. Main St., Elkin. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show is at 7:30 p.m. There will be a cash bar and food available for purchase. Tickets are $20 per person for those 18 and older only, and can be purchased at elkincomedyonmain.eventbrite.com.

July 22

• 10 a.m., the original Royal-Miles-Brooks reunion will be held at Liberty Knob Baptist Church on Oklahoma Road, Roaring Gap, will begin with grave decoration services at 10 a.m. followed by church services at 11 a.m. and a reunion and picnic lunch. The public is invited, and family attending can bring a covered dish.

July 23

• Noon to 4:30 p.m., a blood drive will be held at First United Methodist Church, 210 Marion St., Pilot Mountain.

• 6 to 8 p.m., the Elkin Public Library will host an information session for parents and caregivers of children with special needs presented by Dr. Adrienne Classen and Sandie Blackley.

July 23-27

• 6 to 8:30 p.m., Community Vacation Bible School presents “24/7 Jesus Makes a Way Every Day,” hosted by St. Home Baptist Church, 340 Oak Grove Road, Elkin.

July 24

• 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Elkin Public Library’s book club at Fiddles Pub will meet at the local spot to discuss “The Keeper of Lost Causes” by Jussi Adler Olsen.

July 26

• 1 to 2 p.m., the Elkin Public Library women’s book club will meet at Dirty Joe’s North, 829 N. Bridge St., to discuss “Summer Reading” by Hilma Wolitzer.

July 27

• 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., a blood drive will be held at Prism Medical Products, 119 W. Main St., Elkin.

July 27-28

• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hinshaw Street Baptist Church, 1105 Hinshaw St., North Wilkesboro, will host a Christmas in July decoration sale as it holds an estate sale of Christmas items, with proceeds benefiting the building fund.

• Alleghany County Public Library’s Friends of the Library Books ‘N Friends used bookstore will host a summer sale with all books half price. The store, 35 N. Main St., Sparta, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The next sale will be Sept. 14-15.

July 27-29

• The annual Take a Break from the Interstate three-day yard sale event will be held along Historic U.S. 21 from Wytheville, Virginia, to Harmony, North Carolina, including the Yadkin Valley region. For more information, call 800-553-2322 or in Elkin, 336-526-3000 or 336-794-6469, or visit www.takeabreakfromtheinterstate.com/us-21-road-market.html.

• 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., a blood drive will be held at Mount Airy Wesleyan Church, 2063 S. Main St., Mount Airy.

• 4 to 9 p.m., Cruise! Downtown Elkin will be held on Main Street. For more information, email vkroberts@embarqmail.com.

• 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Yadkin Valley Senior Center will host a singles night dinner and dance including a dinner of barbecue, slaw and baked beans and entertainment by Blue Grace. This is for singles only, to combat loneliness in the lives of single seniors and is free.

July 30

• 1 to 5:30 p.m., a blood drive will be held at Chick-fil-A, 2007 Rockford St., Mount Airy.

• 6 to 8 p.m., the Elkin Public Library will host a presentation by Billy Stevens, Roads scholar, on “Sincere Forms of Flattery: Blacks, Whites and American Popular Music.”

• 1:30 to 6 p.m., a blood drive will be held at Dobson United Methodist Church, 204 S. Main St., Dobson.

Aug. 3

• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mountain Valley Hospice will hold a port-a-pit barbecue chicken fundraiser at Yadkinville United Methodist Church, pick up only. Cost is $10 per plate and includes half chicken, baked beans, slaw, roll and homemade dessert. Purchase a ticket by calling 336-677-1692 or speaking with a staff member or volunteer.

Aug. 5

• Noon, the 27th annual Smith reunion will be held at the Carroll County Park on Ball Park Road, Hillsville, Virginia, for descendants of Lewis and Sarah Holderfield Smith and their 12 children, Joshua Freeman, Cynthia Jane Smith Goodson, William Riley, Lewis, Walter Joseph, Sally Smith Monday, Thomas Houston, James Dudley, James Madison, Cox Edward, John F. and Fanny Smith Holderfield. Those attending are asked to bring a covered dish and drink.

Aug. 18

• 11 a.m. to noon, Surry County Lupus Support Group will meet in the multipurpose room of the Mount Airy Public Library, 145 Rockford St., Mount Airy.

Aug. 25

• 4 to 9 p.m., Cruise! Downtown Elkin will be held on Main Street. For more information, email vkroberts@embarqmail.com.

Sept. 28-29

• The fourth annual Carolina Jubilee, a two-day music and food festival will take place at VanHoy Farms, 742 Jericho Road, Harmony.

Oct. 4

• The 13th annual Elkin Rescue Squad charity golf tournament will be held at Cedarbrook Country Club with morning and afternoon tee times. The tournament, hosted by WIFM and Vintage Rose Wedding Estate, will be captain’s choice, with three flights, breakfast, lunch, soda, snacks, free range balls, an 11×17 individual and team photo and player goody bags. Prizes include cash for the first and second place, a longest drive, two closest to the pin holes and two hole-in-one opportunities. Sponsorships also are available. For more information, call Charlotte York at 336-374-9600, Joel Hooper at 336-835-2511, or Jerry Atkins at 336-374-9608.

Nov. 15

• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce will hold its inaugural Showcase Yadkin business expo event at the Yadkin County Agricultural and Education Building on the campus of the Yadkin Center of Surry Community College, 2051 Agricultural Way, Yadkinville. The expo will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a Chamber Business After Hours to wrap up the day from 4 to 6 p.m. To learn more about the cost to showcase a Yadkin business, contact the chamber at 3366-679-2200.

• 3 p.m., a community drum circle is held each Sunday at Central Park in King. No experience is necessary and extra drums are available for use. Weather updates and additional information can be found on Facebook at Pinnacle Drum Circle. For more information, email pinnacledrumcircle@yahoo.com or call 336-368-3866.

• 8 p.m., Granite City group closed discussion for Alcoholics Anonymous will meet the last Sunday of each month downstairs at Central United Methodist Church, North Main Street, Mount Airy.

• 10 a.m., line dance class is being held each Monday at the Yadkin Valley Senior Center, 121 Delos Martin Drive, Jonesville, with Shirley Bell as instructor.

• 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., the Elkin Public Library each Monday hosts an acoustic string band jam session.

• 5 to 8 p.m., clogging classes are being held every Monday at the Yadkin Valley Senior Center, 121 Delos Martin Drive, Jonesville, with beginners from 5 to 6 p.m., intermediate from 6 to 7 p.m. and team practice from 7 to 8 p.m. Cost is $20 per month and it’s open to those 10 and older. Call teacher Janice Nixon at 336-835-4912 to sign up.

• 8 p.m., Tri-County group open meeting for Alcoholics Anonymous will meet each Monday at 118 N. Elkin Drive, Elkin.

• 8 p.m., Mayberry group open meeting for Alcoholics Anonymous will meet each Monday at the old train depot, 580 Granite St., Mount Airy.

• 5 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church has a free community meal on the fourth Monday of each month at 451 Winston Road, Jonesville.

• 6 p.m., a monthly Alzheimer’s support group will be held every second Tuesday at Chatham Nursing & Rehab Center, 700 Johnson Ridge Road, Elkin. If area schools are closed due to inclement weather the group will not meet. For more information, call 336-567-7600.

• 6:30 p.m., Alanon Family Group meeting is held each Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Elkin’s main church building next to the church office. This is an open meeting. For more information, call 336-468-0395.

• 7 p.m., the Stone Mountain chapter of Trout Unlimited meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Foothills Arts Council in downtown Elkin. For more information, visit www.smtu.org or the group’s Facebook page.

• Noon to 1 p.m., the first Wednesday of each month, a free informational webinar is held for those interested in learning about the Guardian ad Litem program. These volunteers are court-appointed and serve as the judge’s eyes and ears on children going through the foster care system. To register or for more information, call Tammy Baity at 336-651-4465.

• 10 a.m., the Elkin Public Library, 111 N. Front St., hosts Book Babies each Thursday, featuring stories and songs for caregivers and their babies in a 20- to 25-minute program for those ages birth to 24 months.

• 5:30 p.m., the Jonesville Historical Society meets the third Thursday of each month at the Yadkin Valley Senior Center.

• 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Women In Sobriety, a closed meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, is held each Thursday at First Baptist Church of Elkin, 110 Gwyn Ave., Elkin. For more information, call Maureen at 336-258-2520.

• 6:30 to 8 p.m., 4G Club – Girls Growing in God’s Grace, is held each Thursday at the Fairfield Inn’s Conference Room in Elkin. It is a meeting for girls 13 to 25 to come together and bond. Regular rap sessions are held about depression, fear, anger, jealously and other topics the girls want to discuss. They will learn about talents and how to help others by using what each is already gifted with. For more information, call Christy Martin at 336-514-9452 or Joyce Martin at 336-258-2338.

• 7:30 p.m., Serenity group closed meeting for Alcoholics Anonymous will meet each Thursday at 209 W. Main St., Yadkinville, at the Presbyterian church.

• 6 p.m., the Yadkin Valley Senior Center will host Art Party with Jan each first Friday of the month. The event is open to the public and cost of $35 includes all materials needed. Registration is required prior to the day of the art party by calling the center at 336-527-1087.

• 7 p.m., Girls Night Out group closed meeting (ladies only) for Alcoholics Anonymous will meet each Friday at First United Methodist Church, N.C. 268 and Marion Street, Pilot Mountain.